Shackle device



Oct. 23, 1934. I w JUENGST 1,977,852

SHACKLE DEVICE Fil ed Aug. 9, 1952 INVENTOR Patented Oct. 23, 1934 UNITED STATES 1,977,852 .SHACKLE DEVICE Raymond W. Juengst,

signer to The Fafnir New Britain, Conn, as-' Bearing Company, New

Britain, Conn., a corporation of Connecticut Application August 9,

8 Claims.

My invention relates to a means for connecting the frame and spring of an automobile and more particularly to an improved connection involving a so-called anti-shimmy device.

It is the principal object of the invention to provide an anti-friction shackle device with antishimmy means which will be effective in use,

relatively cheap to manufacture, and not likely to get out of order.

hereinafter pointed out or will become apparent upon a reading of the specification.

In the drawing which shows, for illustrative purposes only, apreferred form of the inven- Fig. 1 is a fragmentary side view ofa frame and springv connected by my: improved shackle device and illustrating anti-shimmy mechanism;

Fig. 2 is a part sectional view taken substan 20 tially on the plane of the line 2-.-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an inside view in. elevation of one of the. shacklelinksshown in Figs. 1 and 2.

In said drawing 5 indicates part of a frame and, as illustrated, isthe front or horn end of a frame; The frame is provided with a downwardly extending rigid arm 6 comprising part of the anti-shimmy device to be later described. '7 indicates-part of a spring to be shackled to the frame. The frame'and spring are shackledvto each other through anti-friction bearing means, and in the form shown I provide a pair of shackle links 8.-9, each having raceways 1011 for antifriction bearing members 12-12. Coacting raceway means are carried by the frame and spring and in the form shown I employ shackle pins 13-14 rigidly secured respectively in eyes of the frame and spring. These shackle pins project beyond the sides of their supporting members and are provided with raceway means for coaction 40 with the anti-friction bearing members 12-12 whereby the frame and spring will be anti-frictionally supported from each other.

In the form shown, the shackle links are duplicates of each other and preferably comprise sheet ,;metal channel shaped members, that is, each link is preferably provided with an upstanding marginal flange 15 which may be continuous so as to provide a very light, yet exceedingly rigid, link. The links may be connected by means of a through bolt 16, and, if desired, spaced apart by a spacer 1'7 interposed between the two links. The anti-shimmy mechanism cooperates with the lower ends of the links.

In the form illustrated, the lower ends of the links are extended downwardly and are of re- Other objects and features of invention will be 1932, Serial No. 628,057

duced width, as shown particularly in Figs. 1 I

and 3. Abutment means in the form of a block 16 may be interposed between the links 8--9 and is preferably of a width to be received snugly between the fianges on each channel link so that the flanges'assist in supporting the abutment means against rotation. The block 16' may have; integral threaded lugs 1717'.extendingithrough holes such as 18 in eachv of the links, and nuts l9'-l9 serveto draw the links toward eachother and up against the block 16, or, as specifically shown, against the washers or integral lands 20 thereon.

In order to limit the shackling motion of the shackle, I providespring means. As illustrated, the block 16 may have a pair of holes 21 extend- 1 ing therethrough for the loose reception of a 1 pair of bolts such as 22. A pair of springs such as 23 may surround the bolts 22 and be inter-.

posed between the frame arm 6 and, the abutment block 16. The frame arm may berecessed. as indicated at 24, and the abutment block may be correspondingly recessed as indicated ,at 25 for the reception of the one or more anti-shimmy springs 23. a At the opposite side of the abutment block 16 there may be another pair of anti-shimmy springs such as 26 engaging the abutment. 16 in recesses such as 27 therein. Each bolt 22 may have an abutment collar 28 thereon adjustably, held by'a nut;29 for engagement with the opposite ends of the springs 26. Thus, by adjustment of the nut- 29, the effective functioning 'of the. springs 23-26 may be altered.

When the device is in use, the normal shackling action of the shackle is resisted in one direction by the springs 23 and in the opposite direction by the springs 26. It is to be noted that, as illustrated, the holes 21 are larger than the shanks of the bolts 22 so as to permit freedom of action during the shackling movement. Since the action of anti-shimmy devices is well known at this time, no particular description of the functioning thereof need be here recited.

While the invention has been described in considerable detail and a preferred form illustrated, it is to be understood that various changes and modifications may be made within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a device of the character indicated, a frame part having an eye therein, a shackle pin rigidly secured therein and projecting beyond the sides thereof, a rigid arm on said frame projecting downwardly, a spring having an eye, a shackle pin rigidly secured in said eye and projecting beyond the sides thereof, a pair of shackle links each having bearing raceways at spaced apart points, anti-friction bearing members interposed between said raceways and the projecting ends of said shackle pins, said shackle links being extended substantially beyond said spring eye, an abutment block interposed between said shackle links and rigidly secured thereto substantially at the ends thereof, and spring means at opposite sides of said block, together with means for causing said spring means to cooperate with said downwardly extending arm on the frame purpose described.

2. In an anti-shimmy vehicle spring shackle, a pair of separable shackle links having extended ends with an abutment block secured therebetween, each link having a pair of spaced apart for the raceways for anti-friction bearing members,

bearing raceway means to be carried by a vehicle frame and a vehicle spring, anti-friction bearing members interposed between said last mentioned raceway means and the raceways on said shackle links, and anti-shimmy spring means cooperating' 't hr0ugh said abutment, block with a part of the vehicle frame for the purpose described.

3. In a device of the character indicated, a

pair of. pressed metal channel shaped shackle links having a marginally extending upstanding flange defining the channel shape of said links,

anti-friction bearing member raceways in each link at spaced apart points, bearing raceway means to be carried bya frame and spring, antifriction bearing members interposed betWeen said last mentioned raceways and the raceways of "said shackle links, an abutment block interposed between said links and fitting at the ends in channels thereof so as to support'the block, means for securing said block rigidly to said links,

and means including said abutment block for resiliently limiting the shackling motion of said shackle links.

'4'. In an anti-shimmy vehicle spring shackle, a-pair of shackle links each having spaced raceways for anti-friction bearing devices and each having an extended end, a substantially continuous marginalflange around each link, an abut-- merit block fitting at its ends between the walls of the channel in the extended ends of each link and rigidly secured therein, 1 anti-friction bearing oo means arranged to be interposed between raceways of saidlinks and a vehicle spring and a vehicle frame, and resilient means cooperating therein, an abutment block secured to said shackle links at said extended ends, and resilient means cooperating with said extended ends and a relatively fixed partof the vehicle frame for retarding the free shackling movement of said shackle links.

6. In an anti-shimmy vehicle spring shackle, a pair of elongated separable shackle links, said links having strengthening flanges thereon, abutment means coacting with said links at one end of said-shackle and adjacent said. strengthening flanges, means for securing said links and abutment means together, means including anti-friction bearing members for anti-frictionally con-- necting a vehicle frame to a vehicle spring through the medium of said shackle: links, and resilient means for cooperation with said abutment'means for limiting the shacklingmotion of said shackle.

links.

7. As an article of manufacture, a pressed metal shackle. link having araceway for anti-friction bearing members adjacent one end thereof and having a second raceway for anti-friction bearing membersintermediate the ends thereof, said. link having an integral extension at the other end, each side edge of each link having an integral strengthening flange to reinforce the samesubstantially throughout its length. i I 1 '8. As an article of manufacture, a pressed metal shackle link having a raceway for anti-friction bearing members adjacent one end thereof and having a second raceway for anti-friction bearing members intermediate the ends thereof, said link having an integral extension at the other end,

each side edge of each link'having an integral,

strengthening flange to reinforce the same substantially throughout its length, said flanges extending around bothends of said link.

RAYMOND W. JUENGST. 

